GB740101A - Improvements in or relating to esters - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises polymers of esters which have the formula <FORM:0740101/IV(a)/1> in which R in both occurrences represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, (see Group IV (b), or copolymers of said esters with compounds which contain at least one vinylidene group, CH2=C<. Compounds which contain at least one vinylidene group mentioned include vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile, vinylidene chloride and cyanide, aromatic vinyl hydrocarbons such as styrene, divinyl benzene, vinyltoluene, vinylnaphthalenes and vinyl anthracenes; vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate and vinyl propionate; allyl esters such as diallyl phthalate and maleate and esters of acrylic and methacrylic acids with monohydric alcohols including methanol, ethanol, butanols, capryl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol and octadecyl alcohol. The polymerization may be carried out in bulk, in solution, in suspension or aqueous emulsion and may be accelerated by the use of heat, ultra-violet light and free radical catalysts. Catalysts mentioned include benzoyl, acetyl, lauroyl and succinyl peroxide, tert.-butyl hydroperoxide, di-tert.-butyl peroxide, tert.-butyl perbenzoate, stearoyl peroxide, ascaridole, cumene hydroperoxide, caprylyl peroxide, azo-isobutyronitrile and methyl azo-isobutyrate. In example (1) esters of both types are prepared and polymerized by heating with tert.-butyl perbenzoate and copolymers with e.g., methyl methacrylate or styrene or vinyl acetate are mentioned.ALSO:The invention comprises esters having the formula <FORM:0740101/IV(a)/1> in which R in both occurrences represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. The esters may be prepared by reacting 4,41-dihydroxy-diphenyl sulphone in an aqueous solution of an hydroxide of an alkali metal with acrylic acid anhydride or methacrylic acid anhydride, preferably at a temperature below 50 DEG C. or by reacting an alkali metal salt of 4,41-dihydroxy-diphenyl sulphone with an acid chloride or an acid bromide of either acrylic acid or methacrylic acid at a temperature below about 50 DEG C. in the presence of an organic solvent for said acid chlorides and bromides. The products may be polymerized and copolymerized (see Group IV (a)). Solvents mentioned include aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene or xylene; lower alcohols such as methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl alcohols; dioxane, acetone and methyl ethyl ketone. In examples: bis-(4-methacrylyloxyphenyl) sulphone is prepared by reacting the sodium salt of 4,41-dihydroxy diphenyl sulphone with methacrylyl chloride in the presence of benzene and di-b -naphthol and bis-(4-acrylyloxyphenyl) is similarly prepared using acrylyl chloride (1); and acrylic and methacrylic anhydrides are reacted with solutions of 4,41-dihydroxy-diphenyl sulphone in aqueous sodium hydroxide to obtain the desired products (2).